Feeding mechanism for automatic guns.



Patented July I, |902.-

A. VICKERS.

FEEDING MECHNISM FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

(Application led Nov. 1, 1901.\

(No Model.)

l ll No. 703,859. Patented July l, |902. A. vlcKERs.

FEEDINQ MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

(Application filed Nov. 1, 1901.)

- 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

fame/z afar UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ALBERT VIOKERS, OF IVESTMINSTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO VIOKERS SONS daMAXIM, LIMITED, OF WESTMINSTER,LONDON COUNTY, ENGLAND.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR AUTONITIC GUNS.

SPECIFICATION. forminggpart of Letters Patent No. 703,859, dated July 1,1902.

Application filed November 1,1901. `Serial No. 80,818. (No model.)

1 0 eZ/ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, ALBERT VICKERS, steelmanufacturer, a subject oftheKing of Great Britain, residing at 32 Victoria street, Westminster,London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFeeding Mechanism for Automatic Guns, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to automatic guns, and has for its chief objectto improve the construction of the feed-block, so that all the partsthereof can be detached or assembled by means of the nsers fingersunaided by a tool.

In order that my invention may be fully understood and carried intopractice, I will describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure lis a side elevation of the feed-blockdetached from the gun. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 3 isalongitudinal section taken on the line vl l of Fig. 2.` Fig. 4 is alocal horizont-alY section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an underside view of the slide carrying the feed-pawls. IFig. 6 is a transversesection on the 'line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an under side View of aportion of the feed-block.

A is the body por-tion of the feed-block, and B the slide carrying thefeed-pawls O. D D are the retaining-pawls, and E E are the levers, foractuating the said'slide. According to my invention the said levers E Efor operating the slideB are both made in one piece with their stem orspindle e instead of one of them being made separately therefrom andconnected to the spindle, as heretofore.'

The bearing a for said spindle e is partly cut away to permit of thespindle being laterally placed into position therein, and the gap formedbyzpartly cutting away said bearing, as aforesaid, is closed by amovable piece or bearing-slide d', suitably formed to complete thebearing when in position in the block. This bearing-slide is retained inproper position by the adjacent side plate of the gun Whe'n said blockisinserted into place in the gun. In order to prevent the saidbearingslide from becoming unintentionally displaced or detached whenthe feed-block is not in the gun or when the other parts of the blockare being assembled, I may provide a spring blade or finger a2, one endof which is adapted to detachably fit into a suitablyformed recess a3 inthe .block and the other or free end of which is adapted to lie upon orengage with a recess in the 'said bearingslideu- The free end of theupper lever E-` that is to say, the one that engages with the feed-blockslide-is forked or similarly formed to enable it to readily engage Withthe pin or projection l) on said feed-block slide during the assemblingoperation.

The springs c for the feed-pawls O are made in one piece, their endsremote from the pawls forming part of a transverse piece c', that isadapted to fit into a suitably-formed groove slide B. The said springsare prevented from becoming unintentionally detached by forming on'theupper surfacev of each of the said pawls at a point immediately inadvance of the free ends of the springs a notch or shoulder c2.

The lower or retaining pawls D of the feedblock are mounted upon aremovable axispin d, which is longitudinally split or divided at the endd', that is inserted through the block. This split end is so shaped thatthe members .thereof tend by their resiliency to expand beyond thediameter of the pin, but do not prevent the pin from being passedthrough the block and the feed-pawls. When, however, the pin is inplace, its split end eX- tends beyond the block (see Figs. 2 and 6) andby expanding offers sufficient resistance to prevent the unintentionaldisplacement thereof without the use of alinchpin or other lockingmeans. The opposite end of the said axis-pin is furnished with a head orfingerpiece cl2 for enabling it to be firmly grasped with the fingersWhen the pin is to -be withdrawn, the said split end becoming closed bythe pull exerted on the axis-pin as it `is being withdrawn through theblock. The springs d3 for the said pawls D are made in one piece and aremaintained in place by the said axispin CZ. (See Figs. 6 and 7.)

The ears F, with which the feed-block is provided for guiding thefeed-belt into the mouth of the block, are made smaller than heretoforeand are also situated farther back or recess l2', provided for itsreception in the V IOO relatively to the mouth, so that they occupy aposition quite close to the side plate of the gun, and consequently donot protrude so far from the face of the side plate as heretofore.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

l. In a feed-block, the combination with the body portion, the slidecarrying the feedpawls, and the retaining-pawls; of slide-actuatinglevers formed in one piece With their stern and of a gapped bearing forsaid stein, Substantially as herein shown and described.

2. In a feed-block, the combination with the body portion, the slidecarrying the feedpawls, and the retaining-pawls; of slide-actuatinglevers formed in one piece with their stein, of a gapped bearing forsaidstem and of a sliding piece for closing the gap in the bearingsubstantially as described.

3. In a feed-block, the combination With the body portion, the slidecarrying the feedpawls, and the retaining-pawls; of slide-actuatinglevers formed in one piece with their stem, of a gapped bearing for saidstem, of a sliding piece for closing the gap in the bearing and of meansfor retaining said sliding piece in place substantially as described.

4. In a feed-block, the combination with the body portion, the slidecarrying the feedpawls, and the retaining-pawls; of slide-actuatinglevers formed in one piece With their stem, of a gapped bearing for saidstem, of a sliding piece for closing the gap in the bearing and of adetachable flexible iinger for retaining said sliding piece in placesubstantially as described.

5. In a feed-block, the combination with the body portion, the slidecarrying the feedpaWls, the slide-actuating levers, and theretaining-pawls; of detachable springs for the feed-pawls, comprisingexible members adapted to bear on the pawls and a transverse piececonnecting the said iiexible members and adapted to fit into a groove inthe slide and to be maintained in such position by bearing-surfaces onthe pawls substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses, this 21st day of October, 1901.

ALBERT VICKERS.

Witnesses:

HENRY KING, E. D. LANE.

